Guards held for copper theft, perjury

Pietermaritzburg - Two security guards accused of stealing copper from a municipal warehouse have been arrested in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal police said on Monday.

The men, aged between 26 and 29, were taken into custody on Sunday after they allegedly faked a robbery in Havelock Road, Captain Thulani Zwane said.

They alerted police to a robbery that took place while they were on patrol. They said five armed men forced them to open the store and stole a drum of copper cable, Zwane said.

“After further investigations police found that the guards had made a false statement.”

The stolen copper, with an estimated street value of R150 000, was found at a nearby house. Zwane said the men were found in possession of a bolt cutter believed to have been used to open the warehouse.

“Police believe that the guard may be linked to previous robberies at the warehouse.”

The men were expected to appear in the Pietermaritzburg Magistrate's Court soon on charges of housebreaking, theft, and perjury.